The Potential for Effect of a Six-Week Training Program for Gait Aid Use in Older People with Dementia with Unsteadiness of Gait: A Pilot Study

Lee, Den‐Ching A.; Burton, Elissa; Meyer, Claudia; Haines, Terry; Hunter, Susan; Dawes, Helen; Suttanon, Plaiwan; Fullarton, Stephanie; Connelly, Fiona; Stout, Julie C.

doi:10.3390/jcm12041574

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 33 publications

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“…It is worth noting that the manufacturing costs of our prototype device are expected to be in line with lower-end rollators that are widely prescribed. Notably, research has also shown that user training has the potential to enhance effective gait aid use [32], and hence development of appropriate guidance materials for the new frame is needed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of Jumping Ability and Maximum Strength With Dive Distance in Swimmers

Calderbank¹,

Comfort²,

McMahon³

2021

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

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Purpose: The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between dive distance (DD) and countermovement jump (CMJ) height, track start CMJ height, countermovement broad jump (CMBJ) distance, track start broad jump distance, and isometric midthigh pull peak force and relative peak force. Methods: A total of 27 (11 female and 16 male) regional-national-international-standard swimmers (mean [SD]; age = 19.5 [5.5] y; mass = 69.3 [10.5] kg; height = 1.77 [0.09] m) performed 3 trials of a track start dive, CMJ, track start CMJ, CMBJ, track start broad jump, and isometric midthigh pull. Results: Data were separated into pooled (females and males combined), females, and males. Large to very large correlations were found between DD and all variables tested for pooled data (r = .554–.853, P < .001–.008), with DD-CMBJ displaying the highest correlation (r = .853, P < .001). CMBJ accounted for 70% of the variance in DD. Females demonstrated moderate nonsignificant correlations between DD isometric midthigh pull (r = .379, P < .125). Males demonstrated very large significant correlations between DD-CMJ (r = .761, P < .001). Conclusions: DD demonstrated strong correlations with jump performances and multijoint isometric force production in pooled data. Males showed stronger correlations than females due to being stronger and being able to perform the jumping/strength tasks to a higher standard. Enhanced jump performance and increased maximal force production may, therefore, enhance DD in swimmers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of Jumping Ability and Maximum Strength With Dive Distance in Swimmers

Calderbank¹,

Comfort²,

McMahon³

2021

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

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Evaluation of a novel biomechanics-informed walking frame, developed through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership between biomechanists and design engineers

Thies,

Bevan,

Wassall

et al. 2023

BMC Geriatr

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Background Walking aids such as walking frames offer support during walking, yet paradoxically, people who self-report using them remain more likely to fall than people who do not. Lifting of walking frames when crossing door thresholds or when turning has shown to reduce stability, and certain design features drive the need to lift (e.g. small, non-swivelling wheels at the front). To overcome shortfalls in design and provide better stability, biomechanists and industrial engineers engaged in a Knowledge Transfer Partnership to develop a novel walking frame that reduces the need for lifting during everyday tasks. This paper presents the results for the final prototype regarding stability, safety and other aspects of usability. Methods Four studies were conducted that explored the prototype in relation to the current standard frame: a detailed gait lab study of 9 healthy older adults performing repeated trials for a range of everyday tasks provided mechanical measures of stability, a real-world study that involved 9 users of walking frames provided measures of body weight transfer and lifting events, two interview studies (5 healthcare professionals and 7 users of walking frames) elicited stakeholder perceptions regarding stability, safety and usability. Results Analysis of healthy older adults using a standard walking frame and the prototype frame demonstrated that the prototype increases stability during performance of complex everyday tasks (p < 0.05). Similarly, gait assessments of walking frame users in their home environment showed that the prototype facilitated safer usage patterns and provided greater and more continuous body weight support. Interviews with healthcare professionals and users showed that the prototype was perceived to be safe and effective and hence more usable. Conclusions The outcomes of the separate studies all support the same conclusion: the prototype is an improvement on the status quo, the typical front-wheeled Zimmer frame for indoor use which has not changed in design for decades. The significance of this work lies in the success of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership and in biomechanics-informed design leading to improvements, which in future may be applied to other walking aids, to benefit walking aid users by promoting safer, more stable use of their aid.

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The Potential for Effect of a Six-Week Training Program for Gait Aid Use in Older People with Dementia with Unsteadiness of Gait: A Pilot Study

Cited by 2 publications

References 33 publications

Association of Jumping Ability and Maximum Strength With Dive Distance in Swimmers

Association of Jumping Ability and Maximum Strength With Dive Distance in Swimmers

Evaluation of a novel biomechanics-informed walking frame, developed through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership between biomechanists and design engineers

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